An online site for the western collector of antique bottles, gold rush collectables and early western material culture

Monday, June 11, 2018

The Neustadter Brothers

San Francisco Gold Rush Merchants

The firm of Neustadters Brothers was established in 1852 by the brothers Louis W. and Henry Neustadter. The company was one of the earliest men’s clothing manufacturer in San Francisco.

Louis Neustadter is listed in the 1847-48 New York City Directory selling or manufacturing fancy goods. He most likely left New York for the California gold rush sometime after 1847.

New York City directory 1847-48
The California gold rush was the largest mass migration in American history and brought about 300,00 people to California. Louis Neustadter saw the need for goods and services in the emerging and soon to become state of California and opened a business in San Francisco

The first mention of the Neustadter's in San Francisco was in the January 1850 edition of the Daily Alta California newspaper advertising the dissolution of the partnership of the business of Adelsdorfer and Louis W. Neustadter located on Sacramento Street in San Francisco.

Daily Alta California January 1850

The 1852-53 San Francisco directory lists Neustadter & Company as dealers in clothing at 132 California Street. The directory also lists Louis and Henry Neustadter as commission merchants at 113 Sacramento Street A commission merchant is someone who buys or sells products for a percentage of the sales price. During the early period of the California gold rush ship loads of all sort of products were sold right off of the wharfs or ships by commission merchants. The directory also lists N. Neustadter at 132 California Street as selling clothing.

The September 1857 edition of the Daily California lists the copartnership of Henry and Louis Neustadter

1857 Daily Alta California

San Francisco directory 1859

The firm of Neustadter Brothers continued to grow and expand in the 1860's and became known for their Standard Shirt brand and Boss of the Road overalls. They were in direct competition with the well known San Francisco firm of Levi Strauss & Co.

As successful as the Neustadter Brothers were in the clothing business gold rush history buffs and collectors of gold rush clasps will always remember them as the manufacturers of the rare stamped belt clasp marked:

1 comment:

You learn something new every day! Last fall, while metal detecting on private property with permission, in a state other than OreFornia, my Garrett AT Pro gave a faint signal. It had been the site of a TOC combination railroad / logging camp at the TOC. A foot down my pro-pointer located a number of small round brass items. They were stamped "Boss of the Road". A product of Neustadters Brothers. Looks like someone lost their britches a hundred and some years ago...